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PROS

CONS

It can be quite difficult to bend your mind around the orbital jumping ability of your photon.

VERDICT

Super Meat Boy crossed with a 2d version of Super Mario Galaxy, which should punish and delight all platformer fans.

Full Review

App Store Info

The battle between the forces of light and dark has been a long time favorite to base a game around, but until Sunshine, never did it seem to be taken so literally. The black holes are threatening to consume the universe into nothingness by taking over all the suns, and as a lowly photon, it's your job to stop them. How does a photon go up against a black hole? Well they don't, but by planet hopping and collecting stars, you can make the universe a safer place. Just beware, this task is not as easy as it sounds.

This is a single touch 2D platformer that plays a little like the planet hopping out of Super Mario Galaxy. The main difference here is in the jumping mechanics, as they are certainly unique and will take quite a while to get the hang of and master. How's that possible with a single touch jump? Well it all has to do with orbit. As you're constantly rotating around the planets, any jump you make will follow that circular arc. The longer you hold down your finger, the further you jump, creating a larger arc as you whip back around (sometimes even missing the planet you launched off from). Especially early on this has the potential to be equal parts amazing and frustrating. When you pull off a stylish bit of platforming, a lot of the time by accident, you'll feel fantastic... but after a couple levels, there are jumps that require a little more precision, and without the time and effort to really understand the jumping mechanics, you're going to find yourself dying over and over again. The game does take pity on you after a number of deaths and gives you the ability to jump out of a black hole once, so at least you have some help if a level is giving you an especially difficult time.

Aside from the frantic platforming, another draw to Sunshine lays in the impressive visuals. Right from the intro the use of color is very striking, and as the game continues, this feeling does not waver as each new locale seems more stylish than the last (who knew space could be so varied).

In the end, this is a game for hardcore platforming fans. The jumping mechanics have a sharp learning curve, and the levels are deviously laid out to make use of mastery over this unique style. Death restarts the stage almost instantaneously however so if you're not that versed in the art of platforming, but still wish to give this a go, it's very easy to keep trying until you get the hang of things or decide to put the game down. If anything it's worth a play just for being a platformer that uses the strengths of the iPhone's control scheme rather than using on screen buttons.

Description

** 148APPS - “ The gorgeous graphics, up-beat music and impressive level design combined with the hardcore game play create one of the best platformers I’ve played this year ” **

** TOUCHARCADE - “ It's the whole package: fantastic level design, gorgeous environments, great music. The more hardcore side of things is a bonus, but it's not the only thing Sunshine has to offer. ” **

** THEAPPSHACK - “ It’s one of the best titles within the Gravity-Centric Platform genre ” **

Prepare yourself for the greatest, hottest, hardest and most epic adventure ever seen on the App Store.

**SAVE THE MULTIVERSE AND BECOME THE SUNSHINE!**

Reality is in danger, the Black Holes have taken direct control of the Suns and are shining Nothingness all over the Multiverse. The Photons need a true hero to bring back life and happyness in all the Systems.

That hero is YOU!

Take control of a simple photon and, with the help of a Veteran and the Powers of the Neutrins, jump your way through the Multiverse and become the Sunshine.